In early April, BYU College of Nursing students and faculty attended the annual Western Institute of Nursing (WIN) conference.
Each year, educators, students of all levels, and other nursing professionals involved in research gather at the conference to share their findings and form connections with other qualified individuals. This year’s conference was held in Spokane, Washington.
According to their website, WIN is "one of four regional nursing research organizations in the US whose members include nurse scientists, clinicians, educators, students, academic institutions, and health care organizations.” Needless to say, it’s a highly knowledgeable community.
BYU faculty and students had the opportunity to hear from keynote speaker Beverly Malone, president and CEO of the National League for Nursing, and learn about the latest nursing research done throughout the western USA.
[Research] is kind of like learning a new language
“It was great to be around so many people that contribute so much to the nursing profession,” said sixth-semester student, Kylie Ferguson.
As part of their experience, the students also got to present work from BYU! BYU College of Nursing is heavily involved in research and evidence-based practice, with many professors leading teams of students in qualitative and quantitative projects.
The projects included HPV vaccinations in Tonga, supporting patients who speak English as a second language, and creating an educational intervention to aid nurses in learning to administer blood, among others.
Students stood with their cork-board posters and explained their research, taking questions from the eager crowd. By and large, the community was very interested in their research! Being around other nurses who had once been in their shoes gave the students a vision for their future.
Fourth-semester student, Savanna Harris, recalled two Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) students she met from the University of Utah. Both were mothers, and discussing their research inspired Savanna to expand her career vision.
“Hearing their success stories gives me hope for what I can become in the future,” she commented.
Many students spoke to the value of learning to conduct and present research. Though hard, they rose to the challenge.
“[Research] is kind of like learning a new language; there are lots of statistical analysis [terms] that I’m not super used to,” said second-semester student, Lindsay Jenson. “I had to be humble and soak up as much knowledge as I [could] which is a good trait for nurses to have.”
Mary Smith, a fifth-semester student, spoke to the understandable anxiety of presenting complex research. “I feel like the hardest part was overcoming the nerves. I received so much support and guidance from professors, peers, and new friends I met during the conference.”
Events like the WIN Conference are also perfect places for young students to hone an increasingly crucial skill in the nursing field – networking.
Saydie Holyoak, a sixth-semester student, remarked on how many nurses think they “will always have a job” and that forming relationships with experts and professionals isn’t needed in nursing. The reality is that nursing is growing ever more competitive, and having connections is key to stability.
Networking is something you need to work on as a nursing student. Make your LinkedIn, meet other professionals in your field, and start building those relationships now.
Above all, the conference helped open students’ eyes to the value of sharing research. Rachel Detrick, a third-semester student, said she was “very inspired to continue participating in conferences and research in the future. There are so many amazing opportunities and there is so much to learn!”
Saydie said, “I wish I had known about research as a first-semester student.” She encourages younger students to ask their professors about their work and get involved early on.
The 2025 WIN Conference had a powerful effect on these students, inspiring them to go forth and contribute to the trove of nursing knowledge. BYU College of Nursing will continue to lead the way in nursing research.
